Previews #269 (vol. XXI #2, feb11) previews publications

story KENNEDY XU

art & cover KEN CHOU

APRIL 6

Lost in the bowels of the Living Deep, Sean struggles to evolve into the leader he was born to be. While members of his team scramble to find and protect him, he is left to fend for himself, navigating the mortal threats that lie in wait around every corner.

RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES
ELEPHANTMEN #31

story RICHARD STARKINGS

art AXEL MEDELLIN

cover BOO COOK

incentive cover J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

APRIL 27

Someone is hunting down Elephantmen, one by one... Hip Flask is on the killer's trail.

story TIM SEELEY

art DAN LEISTER

cover A TIM SEELEY & CARLOS BADILLA

cover B VINNIE TARTAMELLA

APRIL 13

The members of Hack/Slash, Inc., are left to defend Eminence, Indiana, against an onslaught of animal zombies without Cassie and Vlad! Cat Curio, Samhain, and Pooch will have to team with murderous traitor Sheriff Maggie in a brutal battle guaranteed to send undead fur flying!

RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES
HAUNT #16

story ROBERT KIRKMAN

art GREG CAPULLO & TODD McFARLANE

cover GREG CAPULLO

APRIL 20

32 PAGES / FC $2.99

It’s the end for Haunt. The Apparition has won.
THE INFINITE VACATION #4 (OF 5)

story NICK SPENCER

art & cover CHRISTIAN WARD

APRIL 27

A spell-binding experiment in sequential storytelling unlike anything you've ever seen before! As Mark tries to evade capture by the makers of The Infinite Vacation, a high-speed chase through universes ensues. Every panel is a different world, as infinity explodes on the page — trust us, you've never seen one like this. Don't miss the groundbreaking issue everyone will be talking about!

story ROBERT KIRKMAN

art & cover RYAN OTTLEY & FCO PLASCENCIA

APRIL 13

Face-to-face with Universa. She came from a distant planet, wielding unimaginable power, seeking to drain our planet dry of all energy. Invincible was able to stop her. But how long can she be contained... and what can be done with her?

story S. STEVEN STRUBLE

art & cover SINA GRACE

APRIL 13

“YOU'RE NO ROCK N' ROLL FUN”

The Li'l Depressed Boy takes a trip with his dream girl to the local thrift store, where he is thrust both into dead people's clothes and a forthcoming birthday party. Can he find the perfect gift in time? Guest-starring Los Angeles indie songstresses The Like!
MARINEMAN #5

story IAN CHURCHILL

art & cover IAN CHURCHILL

APRIL 6

"CHAPTER FIVE : FAMILY TIDES"

Aboard the mysterious vessel Leviathan, Steve “Marineman” Ocean and Lieutenant Greene bear witness to some shocking revelations regarding Marineman's unknown past! But is the disclosure true?! If it is, then everything Marineman thought he knew about himself may be a lie!
MEMOIR #4

story BEN McCOOL

art NIKKI COOK

cover WILL SLINEY

APRIL 20

32 PAGES / BW $3.50

ISSUE FOUR: LOCKDOWN

With Lowesville on complete curfew from the outside world, Trent MacGowan finds himself trapped to face the residents’ fury after publishing his outlandish story. Or so he thought: there’s no sign of it anywhere online. Is Lowesville really censored from the outside world? And who are the shadowy strangers following Trent?

story BRYAN J.L. GLASS & MICHAEL AVON OEMING

art VICTOR SANTOS

cover a MICHAEL AVON OEMING

cover b VICTOR SANTOS & VERONICA GANDINI

APRIL 20

“A LEGEND BEGINS”

True hope arises for the first time in a generation, as the legend of Karic spreads throughout the Dark Lands, forging unexpected alliances between once-sworn enemies. While the bitter divisions between rat and weasel escalate, the mice citizens of Dealrach Ard-Vale are caught in the middle. Only the iron claw of the fearsome Captain Tosk can restore order before all is lost, but the scheming druids unleash a diabolical plan that may spell doom for all who oppose them!
THE MISSION #3

story JON HOEBER & ERICH HOEBER

art & cover WERTHER DELL'EDERA & ARIANNA FLOREAN

APRIL 27

The worm turns as Paul begins to investigate his handler Gabriel, the brutal angel who torments him, but his efforts lead to a more horrible discovery than he could have imagined.

story NICK SPENCER

Art by JOE EISMA

Cover by RODIN ESQUEJO

APRIL 20

32 PAGES / FC $2.99

Since the detention issue, readers have been asking: What happened to Jun that fateful night he sneaked out of the dorms? And who was that he ran into? The answer to these questions and more in this action-packed, reveal-heavy chapter!
ORC STAIN #9 (RES)

story JAMES STOKOE

art & cover JAMES STOKOE & MICHAEL DEFORGE

APRIL 27

A massive battle looms ahead for One-Eye and company, as the full brunt of the Orc Tzar’s jungle horde bears down on top of them at Rekanda Tor. Special guest cover by Michael DeForge!

RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES
PROOF: ENDANGERED #5

story ALEX GRECIAN

art RILEY ROSSMO & FRANK ZIGARELLI

cover MENTON3

APRIL 20

32 PAGES / FC $3.99

After burying one of his closest friends, Proof finally confronts his greatest enemy. But will he be able to control his temper? Who will be left standing? It's the end of an era as the critically-acclaimed miniseries comes to an end.
RAT BASTARDS #2

story KURTIS J. WIEBE

art & cover SCOTT KOWALCHUK

APRIL 6

“OH, DARIUS DREAD, YOU KILL ME.”

The Bastards are sent to track down Dante’s nemesis, the nefarious Dr. Koi. A key source of information is Darius Dread, a mercenary once employed by Koi, who is a surprisingly resourceful adversary. His use of battle baboons: unconventional. But Darius Dread isn’t all that he seems.
SAVAGE DRAGON #171

Story ERIK LARSEN

art & cover ERIK LARSEN

APRIL 6

ENTER: THUNDER HEAD

Malcolm Dragon's life is in a shambles--things have gone from crazy to insane and things couldn't look much more bleak--or so he thought. Enter: Thunder Head--the satanic son of one of his father's most fiendish foes! Comes with our highest possible recommendation!
SPAWN #206 (RES)

story WILL CARLTON

art SZYMON KUDRANSKI & TODD MCFARLANE

cover SZYMON KUDRANSKI

APRIL 13

32 PAGES / FC $2.99

Jim is paid a visit by the biggest guest star of all: God. Jim’s ambitious attempts to discover his identity literally lead him to the pearly gates. Meanwhile, his celebrity status begins to take a toll on his relationships with those trying to help him, but he’s one step closer to finding the answers he’s looking for.
THE WALKING DEAD #84

story ROBERT KIRKMAN

art & cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN

APRIL 6

NO WAY OUT concludes. Could this be the end?

RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES
WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? #4

story NATHAN EDMONDSON

art & cover TONCI ZONJIC

APRIL 20

CHAPTER FOUR

Does Jon have what it takes to find the truth? Can Jake push him to do the unmentionable? And what lies southward, in the sand and beneath the sun?

RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

The THIRD LINE of action figures from the blockbuster video game, HALO: Reach!

Jun (18651-2)

ODST Jetpack (18652-9)

Elite Spec Ops (18653-6)

Grunt Heavy (18654-3)

Spartan Military Police Custom [Male] (18655-0)

Spartan Air Assault [Female] (18656-7)

(#18650-5)

Assorted Case Pack Information:

Standard 8-pack case includes 1 of each figure and 2 of Jun & the Spartan Military Police Custom (Male). Call your local retailer for pricing.

Solid Case Pack Information:

Standard 8-pack case includes 8 solids of the figure. Refer to individual item codes above when ordering.

Figure PI

Covenant Rangers: Elite Officer & Elite Ultra (18666-6)

Spartan Loadouts: Grenadier & Expert Marksman (18667-3)

UNSC Trooper Support Staff: Medic Trooper & Radio Trooper (18668-0)

(#18656-9)

Assorted Case Pack Information:

5-pack case includes 1 piece of the Covenant Rangers and 2 pieces each of the Spartan Loadouts and UNSC Trooper Support Staff. Call your local retailer for pricing.

Solid Case Pack Information:

5-pack case includes straight solids of each 2-Pack. Refer to individual item codes above when ordering.

Two-Pack PI

Rocket Launcher w/Spartan JFO Custom (18938-4)

Gauss Cannon w/Spartan Operator Custom (18939-1)

(18937-7)

Assorted Case Pack Information:

4-pack case includes 2pc of each boxed set. Call your local retailer for pricing.

Solid Case Pack Information:

4-pack case includes straight solids of each boxed set. Refer to individual item codes above when ordering.

Accessory Pack PI
See this month’s Toys Section for information on McFarlane Toys’ MLB Series 27 Action Figure release!
Top Cow Studios
NETHERWORLD #1 (OF 5)

(W) Bryan Edward Hill, Rob Levin (A) Tony Shasten, JD Metler

(Cov) TONY Shasten

Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Heroes and Villains Entertainment present the next evolution of supernatural noir! It's the message on the walls. It's the feeling in your gut. In this city, "We are all lost." Ray certainly is; a former cop-turned-private eye and junkie, haunted by his past in a city with no sun and no hope. A beautiful woman and a slick criminal both offer him the same job: Find a girl named Madeline and bring her to them. Ray doesn't want the job, but he can't just leave this girl in the middle. Thrust into the city's twisted underbelly, Ray will unveil Netherworld's darkest secrets and come face-to-face with his past. Beware, Ray. If you seek the truth, you just might find it.

From masters of supernatural terror Bryan Edward Hill and Rob Levin (Pilot Season: 7 Days From Hell, Broken Trinity: Pandora’s Box) and the art team of Tony Shasteen and colorist JD Mettler (Witchblade: Annual, Stephen King’s Talisman) comes a haunting supernatural noir epic like nothing you've ever seen before.

Full Color • 32 pages $3.99 • limited series

Expected Ship Date: 4/13/2011
ARTIFACTS, VOLUME 2 TP

(W) Ron Marz (A) Whilce Portacio (Cov) Nic Klein

Catch up on the Event of the Year!

The dynamic second chapter of the event of the year is collected! Separately, thirteen mystical Artifacts guide the fate of the Universe. Together, thirteen Artifacts will end the Universe. Sara Pezzini and Jackie Estacado’s daughter Hope has been taken. The Artifact bearers aligned with the mysterious antagonist are united with a common purpose. Those aligned with Pezzini and Estacado are fractured and lost. And the ruthless assassin Aphrodite IV is manipulating Cyberforce to make sure they stay that way.

Written by Top Cow Universe architect Ron Marz (Witchblade, Magdalena) and featuring art by legendary artist Whilce Portacio (The Darkness, X-Men), this volume collects Artifacts #5-#8 along with a beautiful cover gallery, behind-the-scenes extras, and much more!

Full Color • 144 pages • $14.99 • trade paperback

Expected Ship Date: 4/13/2011
ARTIFACTS VOLUME 1 TP—SIGNED EDITION

(W) Ron Marz (A) Michael Broussard (Cov) Top Cow’s Finest

For the true Top Cow Universe fan, this edition of the landmark trade paperback collection comes with a limited edition signed tip-in plate signed by Ron Marz and Michael Broussard. Quantities are limited, allocations may occur.

Full Color • 160 pages • $19.99 • Signed Edition

(W) Troy Hickman (A) Siddharth Kotian (Cov) Keu Cha

The Pilot Season Winner Returns in “Heroes and Villains” Part 4! Twilight Guardian must confront her greatest hope and her greatest fear in a single issue. We can say no more! Eisner-nominated creator and writer Troy Hickman (Common Grounds) and talented up-andcoming artist Siddharth Kotian (Eat The Dead) bring the highly anticipated limited series to a thrilling conclusion. The cover to issue #4 features Twilight Guardian protecting her neighborhood from the villainous Dusk Devil by Keu Cha (Magdalena, Witchblade).

Full Color • 32 pages • $3.99 • limited series

Expected Ship Date: 4/6/2011
ARTIFACTS #3—WILLIAM TUCCI WITCHBLADE VACC VARIANT COVER

(W) Ron Marz (A) Michael Broussard (Cov) William Tucci

Get this exclusive convention variant cover by William Tucci (Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion, Shi) featuring Sara Pezzini, previously available only at Virginia Comic-Con. Quantities are limited, allocations may occur.

Full Color • 32 pages • $10.00 • Variant Exclusive

(W) Ron Marz (A) Stjepan Sejic (Cov) Stjepan Sejic

Tiamat, Part 1 of 4! The Witchblade's power dates back to the beginning of time. But there have been other powers through the centuries, and some of them have merely slumbered, awaiting an awakening. Now an ancient goddess arises in New York City, and only Witchblade bearer Sara Pezzini stands against her. Is Sara ready to face a foe that was old when the world was young? Join longtime writer Ron Marz (Artifacts, Magdalena) and collaborator Stjepan Sejic (Broken Trinity, Angelus) as they charge towards the landmark issue #150!

Full Color • 32 pages • $3.99 • ongoing series

Expected Ship Date: 4/20/2011
ARTIFACTS #3—WILLIAM TUCCI DARKNESS VACC VARIANT COVER

(W) Ron Marz (A) Michael Broussard (Cov) William Tucci

Get this exclusive convention variant cover by William Tucci (Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion, Shi) featuring Jackie Estacado, previously available only at Virginia

Comic-Con. Quantities are limited, allocations may occur.

Full Color • 32 pages • $10.00 • Variant Exclusive
MAGDALENA ORIGINS VOLUME 2 TP

(W) Brian Holguin, Marcia Chen (A) Eric Basaldua, Brian Ching (Cov) Eric Basaldua

Rediscover the Origin of the Magdalena! Patience was not the first Magdalena. Not even the first to make her presence known in the modern Top Cow Universe. However in this second of two Origin volumes, readers are introduced to Patience before she took on the

mantle of the Magdalena.

This collected edition includes the full second four-issue limited series by Brian Holguin (Spawn) and Eric Basaldua (Witchblade, Hunter-Killer) where Patience debuted. Also featured in this edition is The Magdalena/The Angelus #1/2 by Marcia Chen (Wraithborn) and Brian Ching (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Thor:

Chaos War).

Full Color • 160 pages • $19.99 • trade paperback

Expected Ship Date: 4/6/2011

(W) Garth Ennis, Malachy Coney, David Wohl, Paul Jenkins, Scott Lobdell

(A) Marc Silvestri, Joe Benitez, Billy Tan, Dale Keown, and Top Cow’s Finest

(Cov) Marc Silvestri

In preparation for the upcoming second volume, Top Cow is offering a fourth printing of the popular The Darkness Compendium soft cover, where fans can learn the origins of Jackie Estacado, The Darkness, Sonatine, the Magdalena, and much more! A total of 50 issues collected in one volume for almost $1 per issue!

Full Color • 1240 pages • $59.99 • Trade Paperback

Expected Ship Date: 4/20/2011
Minotaur Press
ECHOES #5 (OF 5)

(W) Joshua Hale Fialkov (A) Rahsan Ekedal (Cov) Rahsan Ekedal

A Tale of Suspense and Psychological Horror!

Brian Cohn has reached his breaking point. He has also figured out who is following in his father’s footsteps. Unfortunately, the stress of dealing with his father’s legacy has taken its toll and Brian worries it may too late.

From acclaimed author Joshua Hale Fialkov (Tumor, Pilot Season: Alibi) and rising star artist Rahsan Ekedal (Creepy) a disturbing story of murder and mystery wrapped in questions of sanity.

Grayscale • 32 pages • $3.99 • limited series

Expected Ship Date: 4/27/2011
WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
WIZARD #237

As fans prep for the biggest Marvel summer movies yet—“Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger”—Wizard goes inside Marvel Studios, tracking the company’s success from its humble beginnings with just a few execs and a library of 2,000 amazing characters to today as the God of Thunder hammers his way into the mainstream. DC’s not left out this summer either, thanks to Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern, but does the new flick fly high or is the franchise already losing altitude?

And where in the world is Brian K. Vaughan? After wrapping high-profile hits Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, the former “Lost” writer dropped off the map. We plugged in our GPS and tracked him down. We also break into the comic vault and sit down with 25 of today’s top creators to talk about the first comic book they ever read and how it changed their life.

Magazine, FC (Hobby Cover) $5.99

Captain Jack is back! As Disney readies “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” we set sail for Jakks Pacific to get the inside story on the biggest Pirates toy line yet! Then, ToyFare foolhardily inserts itself into one of the hottest debates in toys: digital vs. traditional sculpting. We speak to passionate advocates on both sides to sort out the myths from reality. Then, find out which Joe can stick a whole Coke bottle in his mouth and which ones simply look crazy, as we count down the weirdest G.I. Joe figures of all time. All this plus another hilarious installment of Twisted ToyFare Theatre and much more!

Magazine, FC (PotC by Jakks) $4.99
COMICS SECTION
AAM MARKOSIA
KATE & WILLIAM: A VERY PUBLIC LOVE STORY TP

(W) Rich Johnston (A) Gary Erskine, Mike Collins

She was a girl from a well-to-do background, who happened to fall in love with her best friend at University. He also happened to be the heir to the throne! And as he gave her the attention of the world's media, she gave him the one thing he never expected a normal life. See both their stories, back to back, for the first time in comic book form. From the English writer of Flying Friar, Rich Johnston, the Scottish artist of Dan Dare, Gary Erskine and the Welsh artist on Doctor Who, Mike Collins, this Special Edition biographical novel commemorates the Royal engagement and wedding.

56pgs, FC SRP: $9.99

(W) Rich Johnston (A) Mike Collins

She lived a very nice life indeed. Well-to-do parents, good schooling, university, but becoming a princess was an entirely different matter. The media, the pressure, the attention — she never expected anything like this. All she did was fall in love with her best friend. He just happened to be the heir to the throne!

36pgs, FC SRP: $3.99

(W) Rich Johnston (A) Gary Erskine

He lived in the shadow of his mother, denied the normal life he craved for. And when one woman began to give him just that, the world would snatch it away. See how the Armed Forces made a boy into a man and led him back into the arms of the woman he loved. Guns, helicopters and an engagement ring!

36pgs, FC SRP: $3.99

(W/A) Various

Whet your indie comics appetite with 64 pages of the best story and art from independent comic book creators! Terry Cronin (Students of the Unusual) rocks with the zombies in Recalcitrant Jones and the Dead Beats. Tim Vigil (Faust) roams the streets of the City of Lost Souls. Mike Kitchen (Spy Guy) investigates an outlandish museum theft. Plus, 4 more quality, done-in-one indie tales and a full color, horror babe cover by Tom Kelly! Indie Comics Magazine is one great big chunk of comic book entertainment!

MATURE THEMES

7x10, 68pgs, B&W SRP: $6.49
ABRAMS COMICARTS
FAIRY TALES FOR ANGRY LITTLE GIRLS HC

(W/A) Lela Lee

The girls are back and angrier than ever! The fourth book in the successful Angry Little Girls series features the hilarious return of this beloved cast of characters, this time recast as fairy-tale heroines. Kim, the angry little Asian girl, stars in "Snow Yellow and the Seven Short Men"; Wanda, the fresh soul sistah, stars in "RapPunsWell"; Xyla, the gloomy girl, stars in "Little Miss Wears a Hood"; and the other girls star in furiously fractured versions of "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Princess and the Pea." Filled with Lela Lee's culturally charged humor, this clever collection of new comics proves that there's an angry little girl inside of everyone. (C: 0-1-2)

HC, 7x9, 168pgs, FC SRP: $17.95

(W/A) Terry Moore

This is it — the Final Issue of this award-winning series! Julie and Annie, sharing the same Alloy618-covered body, must fight their way through an army to stop the Phi Super-Collider from making a black hole that will consume Earth. Don't miss the adrenaline charged conclusion of Terry Moore's sci-fi thriller!

24pgs, B&W SRP: $3.50

(W) Various (A) Reed Crandall

See heroic realism celebrated in this volume dedicated to the comic book work of Reed Crandall. Best known for Blackhawk, his talents graced other Golden Age strips including Firebrand, Stormy Foster, Dollman, Whip, Manhunter, Captain Daring, and Captain Triumph. They're all here in the first book devoted to this forgotten master.

SC, 104pgs, B&W SRP: $29.95

(W) Jason Avery (A) Andre Caliman

Guided by Lera Featherfall, chieftain of the Wyld Elves, Cooper makes his way home, bidding farewell to the last remnants of his past and embracing his destiny as a hero in the Earth Liberation Force. However, Cooper and Lera soon discover that, rather than returning to Far-ay as intended, they find themselves trapped in the real world, surrounded by the extraterrestrial BOK armada, outnumbered and outgunned.

24pgs, FC (3 of 6) SRP: $3.99

(W/A) Lamar Abrams

Max Guy returns to undertake an epic quest with fellow adventurers Magma Boy and Sick Rick. Revengence is a tale best served cold (and with laughs), and Lamar knows how to doodoo it! Fans of video games, anime, and funny comics will rejoice!

MATURE THEMES

SC, 112pgs, B&W SRP: $9.95
OFFERED AGAIN
O/A REMAKE VOLUME 1 GN

(W/A) Lamar Abrams

Like a sardonic cross between Astro Boy and Scott Pilgrim, Remake is 144 pages of silly action and crazy nonsense. Meet Max Guy, a robot boy who simply cannot stay out of trouble. Fortunately, he has this gun called the "Max Blaster" that turns things into stuff!

MATURE THEMES

SC, 5x7, 144pgs, B&W SRP: $12.95
AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHIC
AMITY BLAMITY BOOK 1 GN

(W/A) Mike White

Meet Gretchen & Chester. Gretchen is a shy 4 year old and Chester is a potbellied pig. They live with Gretchen's Grandma and listless Uncle Downey in rural America. Mistaking their afternoon activity of playing "office" for entrepreneurial gusto, Downey recruits the duo to assist in his deluded aspirations of running "moonshine." Unbeknownst to the outlandish family and their activities, strange forest critters begin to lurk in the woods nearby, disrupting their quirky daily life and sending them on an adventure to save their degenerate Uncle from a strange genetic mutation!